Universal bumper hitch



jam 19, 1954 Q E GRAY 2,66654 UNIVERSAL BUMPER HITCH Filed March l2,1953 INVENTOR. C HAQLEs E. 642.4 Y.

BCMM

TTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNIVERSAL BUMPER HITCH Charles E. Gray,Tolleson, Ariz., assignor to Phoenix Engineering & Mfg. Company,Phoenix, Ariz.

Application March 12, 1953, Serial No. 341,993

(Cl. 280-492i 5 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to improvements in universal bumper hitches andis particularly di, rected to a unit which may be welded into the bumperstructure of a vehicle to form a universal coupling between the vehicleand the apparatus to be towed, pulled or pushed by the vehicle.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved universalbumper hitch for trailer or the like which is simple in construction,universal in use and highly rigid and strong under all operatingconditions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved bumperhitch having removable members of simple and sturdy design for makingthe hitch adapted for universal use or for Y direct drawbar pull.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improveduniversal bumper hitch of neat and clean-cut appearance and eicient toopering so as to render the device readily adaptable to universalcoupling or direct drawbar pull on the housing through pin and linkconnection.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improveduniversal bumper hitch which is readily adaptable to direct drawbar pullor universal coupling to a vehicle to be towed.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from adetailed description oi the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle incorporating theAuniversal bumper hitch having the features of this invention..

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan .view of the universal bumperhitch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a right hand end section of the unit shown ingFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 isa plan view of one of the duplicate clevises.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the clevis shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of inserting theclevises in operative position in the hitch unit. f

As illustrative of one embodiment of this invention there is shown amotor vehicle I0 having the bumper structure I I including a step plateI2 of well known design rigidly secured to the chassis of the vehicle. Amain housing I3 is preferably provided with a lip I4 by which it issecurely welded to the bumper structure I I and step plate I2 so that inthis manner it is rigidly secured to the chassis of the motor vehicleI0. The main housing I3 has a bottom I5, a back I6, and divergentlydisposed sides II and I8 all rigidly secured to the bottom I5. Thebottom may preferably be formed with a boss I9 having a bore 20 to beused in the manner of an ordinary pin and link trailer hitch if desired.

In each of the divergent sides Il and I8 there are respectively formedthe transverse horizontally disposed bearing bores 2l and 22 defining acommon axis 23. A pair of identical demountable clevis pieces 24 asshown in Figs. 6 and 7 are each provided with trunnions 25 which may beinserted in and are rotatably journaled in the respective bores 2I and22 in the housing member I3. Each of the clevises comprise the integralbody portion 26 upon which is integrally formed the trunnions 25, andthe spaced bolt supporting and pivot pin carrying portions 21. It is tobe noted that the portion 2l is offset from the axis 23 of the trunnion25 as indicated by the dimension 28. The portion 2l further has -thebolt holes 29 in the outer end and 30 in the body portion 26 throughwhich pass appropriate bolts 29a and 30a to secure the two clevis piecestogether as ya rigid structurevwhen inserted in the housing member I3 asbest seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The central pivot pin bores 3I are inalignment in both of the clevises and serve to provide the main pivotfor relative horizontal movement of the vehicle and trailerbeing towedand a suitable pin is placed through the'holes 3| and through a tonguein the vehicle as desired. l

It will be noted that to insert the clevises into operative position asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rst clevis is positioned as shown at 24a inFig. 8 and its trunnion then inserted into one of the bores, such as thebore -2I by moving it to the left as seen in Fig. 8. The clevis thusinserted is then rotated 180 degrees to the position 24h, Fig. 8. Thesecond clevis member is then inserted in the bore 22 in the samerelative position as the position 24a for the iirst one and when in thisposition will properly align up in engagement with the first insertedclevis. In other words, the inner tive pivotal motion is accommodatedbythe wolking motion of the trunnions 25 in the bores 2| and 22 of themain housing I3. t Thei'ehas thus'lbeen' provided a fully universal"mounting 'f of rli'gid strong construction and which may be readilydisassembled vand demounted-ffromthemain lions-1 ing I3 to render itaccessible either as a step to get into the vehicle or utilizing it asan lordinary trailer hitch With the opening 20. It is also possible toapply an additional -bracket 34 2heldinpla'ee by suitable bolts 35havingl ahorizontalportinSB andY a -pintle hole 3';A whichjif requiredlas shown in brokenI` linesat'lla, maylbeialigned withrthe bore 20 sol-thatapintle -may-be-"passed `through both hole 3l andbore-211for'u'sefas an' ordinary towing'mich. v

"While the apparatusv herein disclosedand 1described constitutesapreferied form" of the invention, it is also to Ibe understoodthatthewapyparatus is capablelf mechaniealalteration without `departing;from the spirit of the' invention and that such *mechanical arrangement;and comappendent claims areintended to be `included herein.

Having thus fully setfoth and .described this invention what visclaimed' and desired to vbeobtained byUnited States Letters Patent is:.L A universal bump'er1-hitch comprising, "a

vehicle, a 'pair" of transversely' 'spaced trunnion. bores vformedAinksaid housing,"a`fpair `of clevises, a trufmion` on each `*of/saidclevisesad'apted to -be received by saidtrunnion bores, a boltandpivotpin carrying "portion -on 'eaeh of 'said' clevises; a

`body portion'interconnecting saidV trunni'on 'and boltandfp'ivot pinoarrying'portion of said clevises, offset inner' surfaces onsaidfclevisesfadapted to engage abutment'sur'facesionlsaid clevises whensaid trunnionsareiin'serted insaid trunnion bores, arid-clamping'lrreans' to secure-'said clevises t0- lgetneras' a rigidfnitjournaled on -said trunnions irl'- said housing.

2. A universal "bumper hitch comprising, a housing rigidly fx'ed to thechassisofa-towing vehicle, arpair of transversely spaced trunnion"boresforined' in said housing, a pair of clevises,

a trunnion' on ea'chof said cleviises adapted' to bel received "bysaid`- trnnion boie'sla .boltf-and v'pivot pin carrying portion on each'of said clevises,

ya bodyportion interconnecting said trunnion and bolt and pivot pincarrying portion of saidcl'evises.

o'set inner surfaces onsaidfclevises adapted to engage abutment'surfaces` on said clevises when said trunnionsareinserted'in 'saidtrunnion bores,

.bltholes inthe outer' ends of saidbolt'and pivot pin `carrying portion'io'f 'sai'dclev'isea lbolt 'holes `in said :body :interconnectingibodyportiongof said 4 clevises, and a pair of clamping bolts passing throughsaid bolt holes in said clevises to secure them together as a rigidstructure with their trunnions in alignment and journaled in said 5trunnion bores in said housing.

3. A universal bumper hitch comprising, a housing rigidly xed to thechassis of a towing vehicleapai'r if transversely" spaced trunnion"bores formed iir1"-said housing'ffa pair oiclevises,

a trunnion on each of said clevises adapted to be freceived by saidtrunnion bores, a bolt and pivot 'pin carry-ing;4 portion on each ofsaid clevises, a

bdy portion interconnecting said trunnion and Y 'bolt andpivotpin/earrying portion of said clevises.

l5-ffsetfinnersurfaces on said clevises adapted to engageabutn'entsurfaces on said clevises when f said trunnions-are-inserted insaid trunnion bores, bolt holes in the outer ends of said bolt and pivotpinearr'ying portion of said clevises, bolt holes in said bodyinterconnecting body portion of said clevises; a" pair I ofclampngibolts' passing through saidboltholeslinsaid clevisesV tdse'curethem i togetherasla rigid structurewith their trunnio'nsin alignment and`journaledin said trunnion kbores *in* said Ahousingpanda pivot`pin'bore fixed in the boltiandpivot pin carrying portion ci saidclevises located intermediate-'saidlbolt 4holes adapted to receive a pintofa'ttachra 'vehicley tobe towed.

4.'-Aunivers`al hitch including a housing'rigidly secured toavehicllechass'isafpairofspaced trunnion bores formed in said fhousingin alignment -with'f-a` horizontal transverse axis,'fa vpair ofclevises, a trunnion onlone VVend oi feaoh of said clevises, offset-innerisu'riaces on each 4of vsaid displaeed radially'ot"I said trunn'ns'an 'abutment surface on each clevis adapted-to engage the inner surface'of the'iother'clevis when'said clevises vare placed together with atrunnion-ofone clevis in one 'of 'said-trunnion boresvandv thetrunnionof the other clevisinzsaidother trunnion bore, a

clamping bolt means passing through said clevises at rightangles tosaidoffset surfaces' for secur ingsaid clevisesrigidly together -Whilehaving a slotted vopening between said trunnions, andv a pivot pin holeinfeachof said clevises lvintermediate said bolt means for securing apivot pinacross said slotted-"openingl 5. A hitchconnectionicompiising,"a housing iixedto a to-Wingwehicle, Aa pair ofyidentical clevises; a'trunnionon ea'chfcievis, -means for clampingAsaid clevises tOget-herwith fa trunnion fof each' clevis atV oppositeends of the 'pairvof-fassembled'fclevises, v"meansfor connecting avehicle to be towed tofsaidpair of assembled clevises including :apivotpin hole in each of said clevises, andvmeans in-said housing to receivewhen dis- `assembledand-'to pivotal'ly support when a'ssem bled saidclevises-oni said trunnions.

eo CHARLES E GRAY.

Barden Dec. 2'?, 1949 Keltner May l, 1951 YNumber`

